Bailiery is a term that is not commonly used in everyday language, but it has an important historical and legal significance. It refers to a jurisdiction or territory that is under the control of a bailiff, who is a person appointed by a higher authority to administer justice and maintain law and order.
Definitions
Bailiery is defined as a district or jurisdiction under the control of a bailiff, who acts as the representative of the sovereign or a higher authority. In legal terms, it refers to the power and authority of a bailiff to enforce the law, collect taxes, and maintain order within a specific area.
Origin
The word bailiery comes from the Old French word “baillie,” which means “office of a bailiff.” It originated in medieval Europe when feudal lords appointed bailiffs to manage their estates and maintain law and order. The term was later adopted in England and other countries with a similar feudal system of governance.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, bailiery is “the office or jurisdiction of a bailiff.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “the jurisdiction of a bailiff or the office of a bailiff.” The Cambridge Dictionary describes it as “the area or district that is under the control of a bailiff.”
Associations
Bailiery is closely associated with the concept of feudalism, which was prevalent in medieval Europe. It was a system of governance in which a lord granted land to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and military service. The vassal, in turn, appointed a bailiff to manage the estate and collect taxes from the peasants who lived on the land.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of bailiery include jurisdiction, territory, district, domain, realm, and province.
Antonyms
Some antonyms of bailiery include freedom, independence, autonomy, and self-governance.
The same root words
The word bailiery shares the same root as the words bailiff, bailiwick, and bailment. A bailiff is a person who is appointed to maintain law and order, while a bailiwick is the area or district under the jurisdiction of a bailiff. Bailment refers to the transfer of property from one person to another for safekeeping or storage.
Example Sentences
- The bailiery of the local bailiff extends over several villages in the region.
- The king appointed a bailiff to oversee the administration of justice in the bailiery.
- The bailiery was known for its strict laws and harsh punishments for those who broke them.
- The peasants who lived in the bailiery were required to pay taxes to the lord and his bailiff.
- The bailiery was a symbol of the feudal system that dominated Europe in the Middle Ages.